Marvel Cinematic Universe · What If...?: Season One
What If... Killmonger Rescued Tony Stark? — S01E06
TV · 2021 · 33 minutes · Phase Four · alternate
In a reality diverging from Tony Stark's Afghanistan captivity, undercover soldier Erik "Killmonger" Stevens rescues Tony before the Ten Rings can take him, sparing Tony the ordeal that made him Iron Man. Killmonger exposes Obadiah Stane's role in orchestrating the original ambush, ousting Stane and installing himself as Tony's trusted right hand at Stark Industries, where he brokers a vibranium deal through Rhodey with black-market dealer Ulysses Klaue that draws Wakanda's attention. During the deal, Killmonger kills T'Challa and Rhodey, staging their deaths to look like mutual combat, and later kills Klaue as well; only afterward does Tony uncover Killmonger's betrayal and try to have his drone army kill him, but Killmonger turns the tables and kills Tony near the episode's end. In the climax, Killmonger reunites with his real uncle T'Chaka, is granted the Black Panther mantle, and then secretly reactivates the stolen vibranium-built US military drone army to pose as Wakanda's savior and seize its throne.
Follows on from
- Iron Mantimeline-branch — Diverges from the moment of Tony Stark's Afghanistan kidnapping: instead of being captured and later escaping to become Iron Man, Tony is rescued outright by Erik Killmonger, sending his story down an entirely different path.
- Black Panthercrossover — The episode's entire second half is built on Black Panther's cast and mythology — T'Chaka, T'Challa, Ulysses Klaue, Wakanda, and the mantle-succession ritual all central — as Killmonger kills T'Challa, frames Wakanda, and takes the Black Panther mantle from T'Chaka.
Leads to
- What If... the Watcher Broke His Oath? — S01E09crossover — Erik Killmonger's variant who became Black Panther and Tony Stark's ally, recruited for the finale team-up, was introduced here.